augustus low



(No Model.)

A. A. LOW.

TYPE CONTAINING CHANNEL.

No. 360,355. Patented Mar. 29, 1887.

PETERS. Phaw-Lmhomphgr, Wahington. D. C.

llNrTED STATES PATENT FFIQE.

A. AUGUSTUS LOW', OF BROOKLYN, ASSIGNOR TO THE ALDEN "YPE MACHINECOMPANY, OF NEWV YORK, N. Y.

TYPE-CONTAINING CHANNEL.

EPEGIEICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 360,355, dated March29, 1887.

Application filed February 19, 1886.

T0 aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that l', A. AUGUSTUS Low, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State ofNew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in TypeContaining Channels, of which thefollowing is a specifica tion.

My improvements relate to type-channels in which the types are arrangedin lines in a prescribed position, and are designed more especially foruse in conjunction wit-h the class of type setting and distributingapparatus set forth in Patents Nos. 230, 784, 254,019, 263, 707,264,084, 264, 085, 268,409, 271,711, 275,664, 279,168, and 282,988.

In the method of handling types to which my invention appertains thetypes are deposited successively into the ends of the type containingchannels,while the latter rest with their backs or spines upon the tableor bed of the distributing apparatus. The types descend heel first intotheir respective containing-channels, and are forwarded therein by areciprocating pusher.

The nature and causes of the backlash are fully set forth in applicationNo. 156,604, February 14, 1885, to which reference may be had in thisconnection as illustrating the means heretofore employed forcounteracting or preventing this objectionable feature in the handlingof type. In the case referred to offsets or deviations in the course ofthe channels, as well as a roughened metallic surface, are utilized tohold and sustain the types against retractile movement or sliding in thechannel.

In the present case a feature of my invention consists in providing asection of one or both sides of the typecontaining channels witharesisting-surfaee composed of a continuous strip of a comparativelysoft semi-elastic substance of fibrous, textile, or other suitablematerial, which bears continuously upon the opposed types, fills ortakes up the play or difference between the width of the channel andthat of the types at such point, and creates sufiicient lateral pressureupon the types engaged therewith to counteract any back-pressure in thecolumn of types beyond.

Serial No. 192,403. (No model.)

This improved means of holding and sustaining the types in position isimportant from its simplicity and cheapness, and also for the reasonthat it prevents all injury or jar to the types. This device alsoprevents the spilling or displacement of the types while the channelsare being raised and removed from position in the distributerpreparatory to transfer to the setter, or to the locking of the types inthe channels by the means hereinafter set forth. 7

I am aware that brushes have been used for a somewhat similar purpose atthe receiving end of a type race or way, as in the patent to Richards,No. 212,504; but such brushes are not the equivalent of my continuoussurface of fibrous, textile, or other suitable soft ma terial. Neitherare they designed to counteract backlash, as in my channel. race or wayin Richards case, referred to, forms a permanent part of a typesettingapparatus, whereas my type-containing channels are removable andseparate from either setting or distributing apparatus, although used inboth. The side walls of the channels in theRichards apparatus are cutawayorslotted to allow the ends of the bristles to protrude into thechannel, and the bristles are bent backward by the advancing types, andthere fore have a tendency to exert their elasticity to return or throwback the later types received when the latter are unsupported by atype-column behind, whereas in my construe tion a continuous strip offibrous, textile, or other soft material is applied directly to theinner surface or side wall of the channel without weakening the latter,and by its softness gives way immediately to the types as soon as theyencounter it, and exerts its supporting and sustaining pressure squarelyin a transverse direction. The soft semi-elastic material thus actingupon the types at right angles to their longitudinal axes does not turnthetypes upon such axes, as is the tendency in the case of the bristles,which latter may be likened to a series of springs projecting into thepath of the types, the outer ends of which springs are bent backward bythe advancing edge of a type in such manner that the elasticity of thesprings will cause the type to turn-upon their The type longitudinalaxes unless supported in the rear by a sufficient number of othersucceeding types. Thus the least looseness or play in the line of typeat that point renders the use of the bristles not only ineffective, butalso detrimental.

I am also aware that curved metallic springs have been used inconnection with atype-raceway to exert pressure upon passing types. Theouter ends of such springs also have a tendency to force the typesbackward before they reach the center of the curve or point of directlateral pressure. However, I do not seek to cover, broadly, an elasticor yielding surface in a type-passage, but limit myself to a typebearing surface in a type receiving and containing channel, when suchsurface is composed, of a continuous strip or section of a soft yieldingsemi-elastic snbstancesuch as fibrous, textile, or other equivalentmaterialapplied directly in the interior of the channel.

In order to afford a positive means for look ing the types in thecontaining-channel during storage or transfer, and also for the purposeof subdividing the channel into two or more divisions or compartmentswhen desirable, I provide myimproved type-containing channel withdivision-pieces or partitions, which engage positively with the channelin such mannor that they are held against movement in the direction ofthe length of the channel.

Owing to the comparatively small numbers of types of certaindenominations which occur in ordinary matter, and consequently insetting and distribution, some of the channels, which are preferably allmade of an average uniform length, will be capable of containing I a fargreater number of types than they are ever called upon to accommodate inpractice. By subdividing the channel into two or more compartments ordivisions I am therefore enabled to utilize valuable space, which wouldotherwise be practically useless, for the reception and storage of twoor more denominations of types. For such purpose the division orpartition pieces may be either movable or sta stationary and permanent.\Vhen stationary and permanent, the partition is preferably situated ator near the center of the channel, and since either end of the channelmay be used as the receiving end the channel so formed may be designatedas a reversible channel. In connection with the permanent division orpartition, movable divisions or partitions may be used for locking thetypes in either compartment or end of the channel. The same result maybe attained by the use of one or more movable or adjustable partitionsor division-pieces; but where the latter are used exclusively there willbe no necessity for reversing the channel, since, as soon as the desirednumber of a given denomination of type have been distributed into thechannel at one end, they may be slid to the rearor other extremity ofthe channel and locked between two of the movable partitions 0rdivision-pieces,

when types of another denomination may be distributed into the first orreceiving end without interference with the typ'espreviously distributedtherein. In this manner two, three, or more denominations of type may beaccommodated in a single channel in convenient form for storage and use,since when one denomination of type is exhausted in the setter from forthe double purpose of facilitating the align= ment of the types and ofaffording a concavity underneath the channel, which allows of theprotrusion through the bottom of means for holding the division-piecesin position.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of myimproved ty iie-containing channel, a portion of one side wall beingbroken away to show the semielastic friction-surface, and illustratingthe 1 locking of two columns of types of different denominations bymeans of movable partitions or division-pieces. edge View of my improvedtype-containing channel empty and formed with av permanent partition ordivision-piece at its center. Fig. 3 is a central. longitudinal piecethrough the channel, representing a line of type of one denominationlocked in position'upon one side of a permanent central partition ordivisionpiece, while a line of type of another denomination isrepresented as having just been fed into. the other extremity of thechannel. Fig. 4 is a view of the spine or under side of thetype-containing channel. Fig. 5 is an end view of the channel,illustrating a method of applying the semi-elastic type-resistingsurface; Fig. 6, a transverse section of the ohannel and a movablepartition or division-piece,

showing means for positively securing thelatter in position. Fig. 7 is atransverse section of the type-channel near one extremity, illustratingthe action of the semi-elastic type resisting or holding section.

Fig. 2 is a top or-' Fig. 8 is a trans.

ICO

verse section of the type-containing channel,

showing a movable partition 0r division-piece provided with a stud orprojection, which enters any one of a series of holes formed in thespine or bottom of the,'channel. Fig. 9 is a similar View showing amovable partition or division-piece, formed with a laterally-projeetingshoulder for engagement with notches formed in the upper edge of one ofthe side walls of the type-channel. Figs. 10, 11, and

12 are detail views,.taken at right angles to each other, of a movablepartition or divisionpiece formed with the lateral projection orshoulder.

The channels 0 are preferably made from sheet-metal blanks, which arestruck up into IZO the required shape. The side walls may be of equalwidth or height in certain cases; but I prefer to make one side wall, 0,less in width than the other, e, to afford access to the types in thechannel. The side walls are parallel, or nearly so, and are inclinedwith relation to the spine or base S in such manner that when the spineof the channel rests square upon a support the side walls will beslightly out of the perpendicular.

The spines are preferably, though not necessarily, curved inward, so asto form a concavity, 8, under or at the rear of the channel, whileaffording a convex bottom, 0, in the interior thereof. The convexity ofthe bottom tends to maintain the types in contact with the lowerinclined wall, 0, while the concavity s affords accommodation for theheads of the screws or for the protuberance of the projections or studsby which the partitions or division-pieces are held in position in thechannel. This will be understood by reference to Figs. 3, 4, 6, and 8,in which it will be seen that the spine or bottom S is formed withperforations or slots 8 s at suitable distances apart.

\Vhere the channel is designed exclusively for use as a reversiblechannel, into the opposite ends of which types of differentdenominations are to be distributed, a permanent partition ordivision-piece, D, is formed midway in the channel, although the sameeffect may be produced by substituting for the stationary partition Done of the movable partitions or division -pieces D. The latter areformed so that they are adapted to engage at certain positions with thechannel in such manner as to prevent their movement longitudinallythereinthat is to say, provision is made for temporarily holding themstationary in position at certain points in the channel. It is obviousthat this may be accomplished in various ways without affecting theprincipleinvolved. Forinstance,thedivision-pieces D may be formed withthe lateral shoulders or projections d, which may be made to engage withany of a series of notches or offsets, (1, formed in the upper edge ofone of the side walls of the channel, as illustrated in Figs. 1, 9, 10,and 11; or the under side of the divisionpieces D maybe formed withstuds or projections e 0, adapted to engage with any of the series ofholes 5 In place of the studs 6 6 screws ff may be substituted, passingthrough any of the holes 8 s and screwing into the bottom of adivision-piece, as shown in Fig.6. This latter form of attachment isdesirable when used in conjunction with the longitudinal holes or slots8 in the spine S, since by such means the division-pieces can beadjusted longitudinally in the channel to a slight extent, sufficient totake up and compensate for any play or looseness in a line of type whichit is designed to lock up otherwise, where the prescribed positions ofthe division-pieces D prevent their gripping theopposite ends of a lineof types, the looseness is taken up by the insertion of one or morespaces, as is customary in setting up ordinary printing-matter.

One or both extremities of the channel are provided with sexnielasticfriction-surfaces or type-holders T,attached to or held in positionagainst the side wall of the channel in any convenient or desirablemanner. These typeholders T may be formed ofany suitable fibrous ortextile material, and they are applied to the channel in such mannerthat they bear against the sides of the types as they pass and forcethem against the opposite side wall of the channel with sufficientpressure to hold them stationary and in position, except when the typesare being forcibly forwarded in the channel by hand or by the forwardingmechanism in the distributer. Some kinds of ordinary string or cordanswer the requirements of such frictional surfaces T very well, andafford a cheap and convenient construction. An illustration of such useis shown upon the lefthand extremity of the channel in Figs. 1, 2, 3,and 5, in which a knotted string, t, is first passed through a hole, 8',in the spine S, until the knot rests against the latter, and then passedin through the perforations t and out through the perforation L in theside wall of the channel, thus exposing a section, T, in the path of thetype. The free end, after being passed through the second perforation iin the side wall of the channel, may be secured by knotting or in anyother suitable manner, if desired; but I prefer to use a cord ofsufficient length to allow such free end to project loosely beyond theouter side wall of the channel, for the reason set forth in myapplication No. 195,866, filed March 19, 1886; or a band or loopofstring or other textile orfibrous material may be slipped down intoposition over a section of the side wall, 0, by the provision of openslots t i in the latter, as indicated upon the right-hand extremity ofthe channel. In either case new semi elastic material may convenientlybe substituted for old.

I do not, however, confine myself to any special form of applying thesemi-elastic frictioirsuri'ace T, since it may be cemented, riveted, orotherwise attached to the side wall of the channel in any way which maybe found expedient.

By forming the notches din the edge of the higher side walls, a, of thechannel, and making the division-pieces D of corresponding height, thelatter may be used as slugs by reversing them in position, so that theirshoulders d project above the lower side wall of the channel.

Having thus described the essential features of my invention, what Iclaim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

1. A type'containing channel substantially such as designated,providedwith a transverse partition or partitions which divide it into two ormore compartments, substantially in the manner and for thepurposedescribed.

2. The combination, with a type-containing 4. A type-containing channelsubstantially channel substantially such as designated, of such asdesignated, provided with an interior one or more movabledivision-pieces formed type bearing and sustaining surface formed ofwith projections adapted to engage with 0012- a continuous strip of softsemi'elastic material 15 responding recesses formed in the said chanofthe character designated, for the purpose nel substantially in themanner and for the and'substantially in the manner described. purposedescribed.

3. A type-containing channel formed with I AUGUSTUS a spine or bottomwhich is curved inward,substantially in the manner and for the purposedescribed.

Vitnesses:

WM. GARDNER, \VM. A. POLLOCK.

